BRITAIN’S “strictest landlord” has defended his decision to charge customers extra for not finishing their meals.

Mark Graham, 62, has owned and run The Star Inn pub in the tiny hamlet of Vogue, Cornwall, for the last 27 years.

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He hit back at a customer who tried to shame him online after they were charged an extra £2.40 because they piled their plates high at the £12 all-you-can-eat carvery – but ate barely any.

Verity Farmer, who shared her experience on Facebook, said: “Just been for a Sunday carvery at The Star Inn, Vogue, St Day.

“We paid for our meal at £12 each, and when we got our bill it had got an extra £4.80 added.

“When questioned about it they said it was a charge for not eating all our meal. I’ve never heard anything like that before.”

Her post prompted nearly 400 comments in less than 24 hours, with The Star Inn’s social media page among those replying.

It said: “We just try and make sure there is enough food for everyone.

“I’m sure if you were a customer later on in the day and I had to tell you I had no food left for your booking because it had all been wasted and gone in the bin you would not be very happy and would have made another social media post too.”

Now Mark – a former tin miner who also served in the Royal Navy – has defended the policy, which is outlined in notices inside the eatery.

He says it is the first time in 20 years he has enforced the rule – and only did so after the two diners told him they had enjoyed the meal.

Mark shared a photo of the leftover food on social media and insisted the nominal charge would only cover the raw ingredients they left but not the equipment, staff or energy.

He said: “I’m not strict but I’m a straight talking Cornish landlord. Ask anybody who comes in for a meal, I’m an easy-going Cornish boy. I tell people ‘fill your boots, have as much as you like, as long as you eat it’.

“When young children come in with their parents we say don’t buy them a meal, we give them an empty plate and say share some of yours and come up if you want more, as long as you eat it.

“We keep it at £12 for a large or £8 for a small because we are a local village pub trying to help the community, we use a local butcher and greengrocer.

“We do as much as we can to keep our prices down but if everybody behaved like these ladies I’d have to put the prices up.

“I think the ladies wanted to shame me because they have been charged, to be honest I think they are just entitled people who believed they would get all the support.

“They tried to say they had only left a few potatoes so they weren’t completely truthful.

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“People on Facebook were saying why not just put the prices up and let people leave what they want, well I keep the price down low for everybody and I’m not going to change that for a few idiots.”

Mark said the pub has deep ties with the local area, hosting the community library, installing floodlights in his field so the village football team can train for free, and hosting 20 different groups from a knitting circle to a motorcycle club.

He said: “We’re a little family run village pub and we want to keep everybody happy, the pub is the hub of this community.

“It’s hugely frustrating because it’s all you can eat, with a normal meal we’ll give you boxes and doggy bags because it’s your food, you’ve paid for it and you can take it away.

“With all you can eat the margins are very fine, if everybody piled two meals on a plate and threw one away by the time the later people came in all the food is in the bin because it’s been wasted, it all goes downhill from there.”

Mark was also backed by locals including pensioner John Tozer, 79, who has been a regular at the pub for 40 years.

He said: “He’s a brilliant landlord, I think he was absolutely in the right to charge those ladies.

“You see people pile up their plates like Mount Everest then they can’t eat it, then at the end of the day people come in and there isn’t any left because of other people’s greed. It bloody annoys me.”

Mark and his pub have previously hit the headlines after fashion giant Vogue threatened to sue him.

Condé Nast, the owner of Vogue magazine, sent a ‘cease and desist’ letter ordering him to stop using the name ‘Vogue’ as it is their name – even though the pub is more than 200 years old and the village is older still.

The publishing giant later backed down and apologised, admitting it didn’t do its homework.

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Russian spies are on a “mission to generate mayhem on British . . . streets” while Iran has been fomenting lethal plots against the UK at “an unprecedented pace and scale”, the head of Britain’s domestic intelligence service has warned.

Instances of spying against the UK by other states rose by half over the past year, MI5 director-general Ken McCallum said on Tuesday, with the range of threats facing the UK “the most complex and interconnected . . . we’ve ever seen”.

The number of aggressive state actions investigated by MI5 had “shot up” by 48 per cent in the previous 12 months, he said, and the agency had responded to 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots since January 2022.

“MI5 has one hell of a job on its hands,” McCallum said in his annual threat assessment. Alongside its counterterrorism work, which has continued at a more or less steady level for the past five years, MI5 was having to confront “state-backed assassination and sabotage plots, against the backdrop of a major European war”, he added.

McCallum said MI5 had so far not seen the rising conflict in the Middle East lead directly to increased terrorism incidents in the UK.

“We are powerfully alive to the risk that events in the Middle East trigger terrorist action in the UK,” but “we haven’t — yet — seen this translate at scale into terrorist violence”, he said.

Nonetheless, radicalisation stemming from recent events in the Middle East was a “slow burn” process, McCallum cautioned, adding that established groups such as Islamic State and al-Qaeda had “resumed efforts to export terrorism”.

McCallum said the return of these groups was the “terrorist trend that concerns me most”. Over the past month, more than a third of MI5’s highest-priority investigations were linked to organised overseas terrorist groups.

Another development is that one in eight terrorists now being investigated in the UK are minors recruited online. MI5 had seen a “threefold increase” in investigations of under-18s in the past three years, driven by far-right terrorism that skews “heavily towards young people, driven by propaganda that shows a canny understanding of online culture”.

However, it is state threats that have undergone the biggest rise, not least by Russia. Britain’s decision to expel 750 Russian diplomats had “put a big dent” in the Kremlin’s ability to cause damage in the west, as “the great majority of them” were “spies”.

Denying diplomatic visas to new Russian agents by the UK and its western allies was “not flashy, but it works”, he added.

The expulsions forced Russian spies such as its GRU military intelligence unit to use proxies, including private intelligence operatives and criminals.

McCallum said this had reduced the usual professionalism of Russia’s spy services and increased MI5’s “disruptive options”, as the proxies were not covered by diplomatic immunity.

Nevertheless, the UK’s “leading role in supporting Ukraine means we loom large in the fevered imagination of Putin’s regime”, McCallum said, adding that “we should expect to see continued acts of aggression here at home”.

“The GRU in particular is on a sustained mission to generate mayhem on British and European streets . . . arson, sabotage and . . . dangerous actions conducted with increasing recklessness,” he said.

Iran has also stepped up its recruitment of criminals — from international drug traffickers to low-level crooks — to serve as proxies for Tehran’s espionage operations in the UK, mostly against dissidents.

Since January 2022, “we’ve seen plot after plot here in the UK, at unprecedented pace and scale”, said McCallum.

He described the counter-intelligence work of detecting criminals who are recruited online by hostile states, such as Russia or Iran, as being similar to spotting would-be terrorists recruited online by overseas radicalisers.

“It’s a familiar challenge,” he said, and “we’ll keep finding them.”

Nevertheless, the rise in threats facing the UK, which includes confronting technological theft and high-level espionage by China, means that “things are absolutely stretched”, said McCallum.

The decisions MI5 now had to take on how to prioritise its finite resources “are harder than I can recall in my career”, he said. It had also meant that “our lower-level bar has had to rise” — a tacit warning that some potential threats might go uninvestigated.

“We can’t always draw the right conclusions from tiny clues,” said McCallum. 

MCDONALD’S is launching a new lunch and dinnertime meal deal offering customers four menu items for just £5.

Fast food fans will be able to save almost £2.50 when the deal is unveiled in restaurants tomorrow (October 9).

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Customers can choose from two different burgers, a medium drink, fries and four chicken McNuggets normally costing £7.46.

The offer will be available in restaurants from 11am, after the breakfast menu is switched for the main one.

However, fast food fans won’t be able to order from the comfort of their home as the new deal isn’t available for delivery.

Plus, not all restaurants are running the offer so there is no guarantee you’ll be able to snap up the discounted items.

This is the full list of items included in the meal deal and how much they cost individually:

• Cheeseburger – £1.39
• Mayo Chicken – £1.39
• Medium Carbonated Soft Drink – £1.59
• Medium Fries – £1.69
• Four Chicken McNuggets – £2.79 (based on a pro-rata of the price for six Chicken McNuggets)

Bear in mind, the price of all the above items may vary from restaurant to restaurant.

We have also asked McDonald’s if the £5 meal deal is a permanent offer and for the list of restaurants not offering it and will update this story when we have heard back.

How does the £5 meal deal compare to other chains?

McDonald’s latest offer might seem like the perfect way to save a bit of money on your lunch break, but is it the cheapest?

We’ve listed off a few other retailers and fast food chains’ offerings which are actually cheaper.

The below offers aren’t offering the same options as McDonald’s, but do offer some alternatives if you’re looking to spend a bit less.

Tesco‘s meal deal comes with a main, including sandwiches and pasta pots, snack and drink for £4 for regular customers and £3.60 for Clubcard holders.

Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s meal deal costs £3.50 and comes with the same trio of items.

Pharmacy chain Boots‘ meal deal also comes with a main, snack and drink and costs from £3.99. Londoners have to pay £4.99.

In terms of fast food chains, Domino’s launched a £4 lunchtime meal deal in April that’s available seven days a week.

The offer lets customers choose from small pizzas, hot and cheesy wraps and chicken strips.

Greggs also has a meal deal where customers can snap up a pizza slice and regular hot or cold drink for £3.50 before 4pm seven days a week.

After 4pm and the price drops to £2.85 – nearly 20% cheaper.

OTHER MCDONALD’S NEWS

McDonald’s customers are in for a busy October, with the fast food chain already having confirmed a new breakfast item is making its way onto menus.

From October 16, foodies will be able to get their hands on mini hashbrowns in a portion of five or 15, with prices starting from £1.49.

McDonald’s already sells regular-sized hashbrowns for £1.19 but these are bitesized.

Many customers have already taken to social media saying the product reminds them of Tater Tots – a popular side dish in America.

It is still unclear whether or not the morning snack will become a permanent menu item or will only be available for a limited period.

Meanwhile, the iconic McRib burger is back on menus from the same date after a nearly 10-year hiatus, with reporter Sam Walker getting a try before its launch.

Anyone looking to snap up the returning pork-based burger will have to be quick though as it is back for a limited time only.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

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“The woman who walked into doors” was first introduced in a mid-90s TV show created by the Booker Prize-winning Roddy Doyle, whose subsequent novels developed that woman’s story and the second of which, Paula Spencer, bore her name. The initial response was relentless and polarised, with some critics outraged by his representation of domestic abuse and sceptical that such a grim phenomenon could exist in modern-day Ireland.

The Woman Behind the Door, Doyle’s latest novel, begins in 2021. Paula is 66, many years sober, a widow and mother to adult children. She’s “elated” to receive her first dose of the coronavirus vaccination, though if the person administering it saw “the state of her skin, years ago — but never that long ago — when she was her husband’s beloved punchbag, he wouldn’t have mentioned the sting the needle might give her.”

Paula’s current stability, her close friendships, her part-time job, her sobriety and her chosen solitude have been hard-fought. Now she has a life all her own; it has been decades since her husband Charlo was “shot dead by the Guards”. When she returns from that initial vaccination appointment, though — the first tentative steps towards liberty — there is another woman behind the door, the last person Paula would expect to arrive unannounced. It’s Nicola, her most capable child, Nicola who “had been Paula’s mother for years”, seemingly happily married and a mother herself; “the safest thing in Paula’s life”. Nicola says she isn’t going home or back to her job and the question, then, is why? “Will you let me in?” she asks.

Segments of fleeting narratives show tragic, poverty-stricken lives colliding

Of course Paula does, but Nicola’s presence is both balm and blight: she’s a “teenager in a menopausal body” and this blend of humour and sympathy, the unlikely pairing of the two women under one roof, provides a great deal of comedy. “No one should have to have middle-aged children,” Paula thinks. “Job done, good or bad. Leave your ma alone.” And how, she wonders, “is she supposed to mother the woman who’s been mothering her for thirty years?” When Paula contracts Covid, “breathing like the Irish Sea”, the isolation period sees the pair barricade themselves from the world: it’s within this enforced space that a conversation begins, the first of its kind.

Doyle has long been praised for his use of vernacular, dialect and slang: talk is at the heart of his work and this book is no exception, whether via the interiority of thought or the audible babble of jokes, jeers, recrimination, fury. Paula and Nicola’s quick-fire exchanges become sparring matches that once started can only escalate: Paula is “all set for round two or three”. These cycles mirror the hourglass structure of the plot, from Nicola’s initial arrival in 2021 to 2023 and back again. “The Covid” seems the least frightening virus of all, and the pair’s discussions focus intermittently on such contagions, the dark legacy of misogyny, the guilt and self-hatred that Paula believed, mistakenly, “had skipped a generation”. For Nicola, her mother’s suffering has precluded her own ability to describe the trench-like depth of its impact: “You’ve already more or less told me,” she says, “that you had it worse — because I never bled on top of one of my children.”

This latest instalment forms a trilogy, though a follow-up hasn’t been ruled out. Doyle’s other three-parter is The Last Roundup, where the history of his protagonist, Henry, was charted from the 1916 Easter Rising to life in the US and back to Ireland. In the first of that series, Henry reflects on his surroundings: “It was my world and it could be as big and as small as I wanted it to be. There was a corner and, beyond that, more corners. There were doorways, and more doors inside.”

There is a strong sense in this novel, too, that for each interaction, each passing glance, there are similar portals waiting to be opened. Segments of fleeting narratives show tragic, poverty-stricken lives colliding briefly, from a minor accident with a delivery cyclist to a woman who picks something up in the supermarket before, on seeing its €1.79 price tag, returning it to the shelf.

As with Doyle’s other work, Dublin is the urban life force outside the door. Paula observes the homelessness crisis manifested through tents erected across Henry Street “like two different cities, two different times of the day”. The precariousness of, and danger inherent to that life is subtly compared to Paula and Nicola’s own situation, were Charlo still alive: in Ireland, gardaí reported an increase of 25 per cent in domestic-abuse calls during the pandemic. Paula realises that despite being the site of such brutality, where her husband “battered the mother out of her”, her home and her patient listening can provide the “sanctuary” required.

The Woman Behind the Door by Roddy Doyle Jonathan Cape, £20, 272 pages

Believe it or not, we’ll soon be turning our attention to 2025 – and it might be a year for advisers to take particular notice of.

If estimates from The Centre of Economics and Business Research are correct, women will hold 60% of the UK’s wealth from next year. That’s a hefty amount.

As women’s wealth grows, the hope would be they increasingly look to seek professional advice on how best to manage it.

Of course, some will have been responsible for their own wealth creation and may already be benefitting from the peace of mind that comes with advice.

It probably was never the intention to exclude the client’s wife. But it’s hard to win someone’s trust if they haven’t felt included

These women are on track to achieve their financial goals. They know how to navigate their savings and investments, they adequately contribute to their pension and they are well placed to ensure their money keeps working for them so they can have a fulfilling retirement.

And as long as they feel they can trust their adviser, they probably don’t mind whether that person is a man or a woman.

Let’s face it, as female advisers account for just 16% of the total market, it’s more than likely their adviser is male.

There is a real opportunity to address this gender imbalance and make advice and the wider financial services sector more appealing as career options.

There is already great work being done in this area. Small changes can have a big impact.

While more women will have the money in their hands, others will still be facing a pension shortfall compared to their male counterparts

Wouldn’t it be a great result if having more female advisers leads to more women seeking advice?

For some women, next year may be their first time being fully responsible for their financial situation, especially if control of the money passes to them after the death of a spouse.

This is how a large proportion of wealth is expected to transfer. If the husband had an adviser (and I say ‘if’, as figures suggest only 8% of all UK adults have received financial advice), will the widow decide to continue with the professional relationship?

Much of that is likely to depend on how involved she was in the process previously. If the adviser didn’t do much to actively engage with her before her husband died, she may feel it’s too late now.

If she doesn’t feel comfortable to ask questions without fear of judgement because she hasn’t properly been part of the equation and hasn’t been seen as an individual, it could mean assets walking out the door.

Research from The Lang Cat reveals more women feel greater uncertainty about how and where to find a good adviser

That’s not to say the adviser wouldn’t be perfectly happy to explain things in a clear way with empathy. It probably was never the intention to exclude the client’s wife. But it’s hard to win someone’s trust if they haven’t felt included.

They are also likely to be in a vulnerable position. They might need to take a bit of time to work out what’s best for them and their family.

When it comes to taking advice in the first place, research from The Lang Cat’s Advice Gap 2024 report reveals more women feel greater uncertainty about how and where to find a good adviser.

Could more be done to promote the values of advice? Should firms look at how they market themselves to ensure they are appealing to a wider demographic?

Now, I’ve seen plenty of arguments for and against advice firms having a strategy to attract and retain female clients.

Things are improving but the very fact we still have a gender pay gap and a gender pensions gap shows more still needs to be done

On the one hand, women are no different to male clients, so why would they need to be treated differently? On the other, some may want to feel valued in their own right. Perhaps they consider their situation to require an alternative approach.

Could part of the problem be that, while women may not need to be treated differently as such, they haven’t been treated the same?

While more women will have the money in their hands, others will still be facing a pension shortfall compared to their male counterparts.

Things are improving but the very fact we still have a gender pay gap and a gender pensions gap shows more still needs to be done.

There are also more women than men who have no private pension wealth at all. Indeed, the Financial Conduct Authority’s latest Financial Lives Survey found more women than men are struggling to cope financially.

The under-representation of women in financial services is a cause for concern and the same is true for female investors. If one improves, the other could follow

Elsewhere, studies have suggested women can be more risk adverse when investing. And, on average, with women living longer, there are clearly a few factors at play which puts them in a tricky situation and could see some struggle in retirement.

Some women will undoubtedly feel more inclined to speak to another woman – someone who has shared similar experiences to them.

It’s not necessarily the case women have more empathy. Many advisers are able to support their clients because they use their soft skills alongside their technical knowledge.

But the under-representation of women in financial services is a cause for concern and the same is true for female investors.

If one improves, the other could follow.

Laura Barnes is director of business development at Nucleus

THERE’S no better way to get into the festive spirit and spend time with the whole family than going to see a Christmas show.

From pantomimes starring well-known TV personalities to Christmas films screened with live music, we’ve put together a list of this year’s performances bringing holiday cheer up and down the country.

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London

Father Christmas Needs A Wee!

This family show is full of jokes, Christmas jingles, and features the man in the red suit himself, Father Christmas.

The story goes, that at every house, Father Christmas eats and drinks tasty treats that have been left out for him. But when he reaches number 10, he realises he’s forgotten to do something rather important – he really needs a wee.

Venue: Arts Theatre, 7-24th December.

Stick Man

An adaption of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stick Man. Stick Man goes for a morning jog but it soon becomes quite the misadventure.

A funny show featuring puppetry and live music.

Venue: Bloomsbury Theatre, 4th December-5th January.

Potted Panto

The West End’s longest running pantomime, Potted Panto offers up seven classic pantomimes in 80 minutes.

From Aladdin to Dick Whittington, the show promises unmissable fun, whether you’re six or 106.

Venue: Wilton’s Music Hall, 4th December-4th January.

Robin Hood

Expect a West End spectacle with stunning sets, costumes, rip-roaring comedy and incredible special effects.

Starring Jane McDonald as Maid Marion and London Palladium Panto royalty Julian Clary as Robin Hood.

Venue: The London Palladium, 7th December-12th January.

Pinocchio

A reimagined telling of the fairy tale classic by seasoned panto scribe Trish Cooke.

Music and lyrics are by Robert Hyman, directed by Omar F. Oka.

Venue: Theatre Royal Stratford East, 23rd November to 4th January.

Beauty and the Beast

Dame Maureen Lipman stars as Mrs Potty alongside Pete Firman as Silly Billy in this classic pantomime adventure.

Featuring spectacular special effects, beautiful costumes and scenery, there’s also generous discounts for groups, concessions, and special rates for school available for selected performances.

Venue: Richmond Theatre, 7th December-5th January.

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Manchester

Elf The Musical

Based on the 2003 film, the show tells the story of Buddy, a young orphan who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole, and his mission to find his birth father.

Faced with the harsh reality that his father is on the naughty list, and with a step-brother that doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Venue: Palace Theatre Manchester, 12th-17th November.

Sleeping Beauty

Once upon a time, in a Pantoland far away, a beautiful Princess is cursed by the evil Carabosse to perish on her 21st birthday by pricking her finger on a spinning wheel. Thanks to Beauty’s fairy, she only falls into a deep sleep that can be broken by her one true love.

Starring BBC Strictly Come Dancing‘s Karen Hauer as Carabosse, CBBC’s Chris Johnson as The Castle Clown, and X Factor’s Sean Smith as Prince.

Venue: Middleton Arena, 26th November-30th December.

Snowstorm Firebird Spectacular Ice Show

A captivating Winter show that combines the elegance of ice skating with exciting circus performances.

The show follows Irina on her epic quest to restore the wings of the mystical Firebirds stolen by the evil sorcerer.

Venue: Trafford Centre, 6th December-5th January.

Miracle on 34th Street

Based on the 1947 film, a major New York department store is on the brink of collapse and their upcoming Christmas sale has to be a success. When their Santa quits at the last minute they’re left with a kindhearted stranger who is convinced he’s the real deal to save the day. But when he is arrested, the fate of Christmas is in the hands of a child called Susan. 

The show features songs including It’s Beginning to look a Lot Like Christmas.

Venue: HOME, 6th-31st December.

Cinderella

Comedy superstar Jason Manford returns for a third year of panto at the Opera House, this time as Prince Charming.

Packed with all the traditional pantomime ingredients, the show features laugh-out loud comedy, beautiful costumes, and plenty of boos and hisses.

Venue: Opera House Manchester, 14th December-5th January.

Home Alone in Concert

Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, an 8-year-old boy who’s accidentally left behind when his family leaves for Christmas vacation, and who must defend his home against two bungling thieves.  

Alongside the showing of the film, John Williams’ score will be performed live by the International Film Orchestra.

Venue: The Bridgewater Hall, 29th November.

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Birmingham

Peter Pan

Birmingham’s own Alison Hammond is returning to Birmingham Hippodrome’s panto this year, leading the cast as The Magical Mermaid.

Audiences can expect to see all their Neverland favourites, including Tinker Bell, Wendy, John and Michael Darling.

Venue: Birmingham Hippodrome, 21st December-2nd February.

Dick Whittington

Stoke-on-Trent favourite Jonathan Wilkes will be celebrating 20 years since his first Regent Theatre panto this year, as he leads the case as Dick Whittington.

Enjoy the story of Dick Whittington and his trusty car as he seeks fame, fortune and happiness journeying to become Lord Mayor.

Venue: Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, 13th December-5th January.

The Jingleclaw

The show is described as the perfect first musical for ages 3+.

It tells the story of a cosy village nestled in the snowy mountains, and the Schnootnoot Winter Festival is fast approaching. A character called Astrid is busy practising for her school band. Everyone wants to keep in time, but Astrid just wants to march to the beat of her own drum. Meanwhile, The Jingleclaw awakes, a mischievous monster who can’t stand festive cheer and music.

Venue: Birmingham Hippodrome, 12th December-4th January.

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Liverpool

Alice in Wonderland

A magical sequel to the cherished classic, Alice in Wonderland. Alice has always told her children stories of her adventures in a faraway world, but they don’t believe her. Even Alice, has begun to doubt whether she’d really lived that daydream.

Until, one Christmas Eve, caught up in the chaos of last-minute shopping, a flash of white fur lures Alice back into an all too familiar story.

Venue: Shakespeare North Playhouse, 22nd November-5th January.

The Magical Adventures of Peter Pan

The re-telling the story of Peter Pan as we know it, the magical pantomime features songs from a live band, dazzling dance routines, and amazing 3D effects.

The show promises an unforgettable experience for children and adults alike.

Venue: M&S Bank Arena, 17th-29th December.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto Rapunzel

The classic fairytale is brought to life with lots of singing, dancing, and live music in this stage performance.

Packed with plenty of silliness and heaps of sparkle, it’s guaranteed to have you busting some dance moves, no matter what your age.

Venue: Everyman & Playhouse, 16th November-18th January.

Sleeping Beauty

In the kingdom of ‘Southportopia’ far, far away, a beautiful princess awaits her true love’s kiss to awaken her from a deep slumber. But, the wicked fairy Carabosse has cast a spell, and only the bravest heroes can break it.

The show stars Blue Peter presenter, magician and TikTok sensation Joel M.

Venue: The Atkinson, 6th-31st December.

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Glasgow

Peter Pan and The Incredible Stinkerbell

A funny twist on the classic story of Peter Pan. With a blast of magic from the mighty Stinkerbell, Peter Pan whisks West End Wendy away from the safety of her Byres Road residence to a place full of treachery, deceit and chippies that never close. Welcome to the rambunctious Riverland! 

Peter and Wendy must face vengeful crocodiles, chippies that dare to serve salt ‘n’ sauce, and come face to face in battle to the death against the evil Captain Hook and his side kick Chai Tea.

Venue: Tron Theatre, 22nd November-5th January.

Snow White and The Seven Dwarves

The pantomime showcases the timeless tale of Snow White and her encounter with the seven dwarves.

Audiences can expect a delightful combination of comedy, music, and dance.

Venue: Goodyear Social Club, 23rd-24th November.

Beauty and the Beastie

Life in Cludgie on the Cobbles is quiet and peaceful – Belle passes her days helping her mother, Professor Porridge and their neighbours Dame Dolly Drumchapel and her son, Hector.

But up in Cludgie Castle, things aren’t so tranquil, as the arrogant Prince Lorenzo has had a curse places on him and must find true love before the final petal falls from a magic rose.

Venue: Pavilion Theatre, 28th November-12th January.

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Leeds

Jack And The Beanstalk The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto

A very different format to the traditional Christmas pantomime, audience participation and corny gags are mixed with classic rock anthems and chart-toppers.

The show isn’t recommended for children under 4, but if you do want to bring younger children, ear defenders are advised.

Venue: City Varieties Music, 29th November-12th January.

The Lost Present A Christmas Adventure

It’s Christmas Eve, and, having tumbled to Earth through the night sky, Elva sets out on a journey to find her best friend – a little girl she hasn’t even met yet.

Written especially for children and brought to life using handmade puppets, the show has original music and audiences can meet and greet Elva after the show.

Venue: Carriageworks Theatre, 14th-31st December.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Audiences can step through the wardrobe into the kingdom of Narnia with a stage show of C.S. Lewis’ classic novel.

With magical storytelling, bewitching stagecraft and incredible puppets, it guarantees to delight all ages.

Venue: Leeds Play House, 18th November-25th January.

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Newcastle

Slava’s Snowshow

Experience a winter circus-like world with clouds, giant snowballs, special effects and an indoor blizzard.

The ensemble cast of clowns use water, cobwebs, bubbles and dry ice to recreate a world of wonder – see a bed become a boat, a web of cotton envelop the audience, and a single piece of paper ignite a storm.

Venue: Sunderland Empire, 3rd-7th December.

Step into Christmas

A Christmas concert with everyone’s favourite songs to bring the magic of the season to life.

Sing along to All I Want for Christmas, Last Christmas, jingle Bell Rock, White Christmas and many more.

Venue: Tyne Theatre & Opera House, 21st November.

The Little Mermaid

Newcastle’s pantomime superstar Danny Adams, and Theatre Royal favourite Clive Webb, Chris Hayward and Joe McElderry are part of the cast of this theatrical extravaganza.

Danny plays Danny Crabstix, best friend to Ariel, the bravest mermaid in King Triton’s kingdom, who must fight off the evil Sea Witch after she steals her voice in return for the ability to live amongst the humans, way above the ocean.

Venue: Theatre Royal, 26th November-12th January.

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Sheffield

Snow White

Starring Catherine Tyldesley as the Wicked Queen, the show promises light-out-loud thrills, stunning costumes, lavish sets, fabulous music and everyone’s favourite jokes.

Gladiator’s Viper Quang Luong and Sheffield’s favourite Dame, Damian Williams also join the cast.

Venue: Lyceum, 6th December-5th January.

Underneath a Magical Moon

Through her open window Wendy Darling gazes out at the night sky dreaming of blue lagoons, magical moons, and the stories that she can tell. But tonight, there is magic in the air.

This is a reimagined story of Peter Pan, as told by Wendy, for children 3+ and their families to enjoy.

Venue: Playhouse, 11th-31st December.

Little Shop of Horrors

The popular West End and Broadway show will be playing in Sheffield over the Christmas period.

Flower shop assistant Seymour acquires a mysterious new plant, he named it ‘Audrey II’ after his crush and co-worker. But as it grows and grows, it offers Seymour the kind of success he could only ever dream of – as long as he keeps feeding it.

Venue: Crucible, 7th December-18th January.

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Belfast

Beauty & the Beast – Family Pantomime

The classic tale of Beauty and the Beast with panto stars Jo Johnston as Belle, Keith Lynch as the Beast, and Brendan Mageean as a Dazzling Dame.

Be prepared to make some noise, sing, shout, boo and cheer as you meet the cast of colourful characters.

Venue: Waterfront Hall, 22nd November-5th January.

The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan

The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan sees the return of Belfast panto favourites May McFettridge as Mrs Smee, Paddy Jenkins as Starkey, Adam C Booth as Smee, Jolene O’Hara as Captain Hook and Aisling Sharkey as Wendy.

They will be joined by Belfast local Jordan Walker as Peter Pan and Georgia Brierley-Smith as Tink.

Venue: Grand Opera House, 30th November-12th January.

The Adventure of Red Riding Hood

An action-packed journey through the enchanted forest with a feisty heroine, Red Riding Hood, and her fairytale friends. But in a race to visit Granny Hood with a festive hamper of goodies, could it be a case of mistaken identity for media star Red Riding Hood, the jealous Goldilocks, or the Big (or not so) Bad Wolf?

The show is packed with original songs, larger than life characters, and lots of opportunities to join in the fun.

Venue: The Mac, 27th November-1st January.

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Nottingham

Peter Pan

TV fashionista Gok Wan will lead the cast of Peter Pan as The Magical Merman along with TV personality and actress Denise Welch as Captain Hook, and children’s TV favourite Paul Chuckle as Starkey.

Expect amazing special effects and barrel-loads of laughter.

Venue: Theatre Royal, 7th December – 12th January.

The Snowman Live

A magical live screening and live orchestral performance of Raymond Briggs’ classic story The Snowman, accompanied by English Pro Musica.

Alongside the iconic animated film, the concert will include festive music and audience participation.

Venue: Theatre Royal, 22nd December.

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Bristol

Mary Poppins

Cameron Mackingtosh and Disney‘s production of the classic multi award-winning musical Mary poppins opens its UK and Ireland tour by flying into the Bristol Hippodrome.

Australian stars Stefanie Jones and jack Chambers reprise their roles as marry Poppins and Bert, having received nightly standing ovations for their performances in the recent Australian production.

Venue: Bristol Hippodrome, 4th-30th November.

The Little Mermaid

A slightly different story to the one we know. The Little Mermaid loves swimming, dancing and spending time with her friends. While she might be different to other sea creature, they’re family and the waters are their home.

So when the sea starts to get warmer – the kelp wilting and the coral fading – she realises she has to act. She vows to protect their home and it seems a caring young man trying to restore the reef is just the person to help.

Venue: Bristol Old Vic, 5th December-11th January.

Little Red (& other winter tales)

A re-telling of the classic tale Little Red Riding Hood, The Red Shoes and The Little Match girl, this show shares a story of absent parents, dance-offs and finding the heart of Christmas.

Expect music, adventure, and lots of overcoming the monsters.

Venue: Bristol Old Vic, 6th December-12th January.

Goldilocks and The Three Bears

TV and musical theatre star Brian Conley heads this festive extravaganza, packed with riotous comedy, extraordinary special effects, and hair-raising stunts.

Goldilocks’ circus is under threat from an evil rival circus owner and, with the help of their madcap circus friends, they’re battling to rescue their Big Top from ruin.

Venue: Bristol Hippodrome, 7th December-5th January.

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Cardiff

Cinderella

Cardiff’s family panto stars presenter Gethin Jones as Prince Charming and broadcaster Owain Wyn Evans as Dandini.

Join Cinders as she goes from rags to riches, outwits her very wicked sisters and meets her Prince Charming.

Venue: New Theatre, 7th December-5th January.

The Snow Queen

A musical adaption of Hans Christian Andersen’s family adventure.

Join Gerda on a dangerous and whimsical quest to save her best friend Kai before he is trapped forever in the Snow Queen’s palace.

Venue: Spiegeltheatre in Sophia Gardens, 12th-31st December.